Paris: Two men armed with knives who took hostages at a church near Rouen in northern France on Tuesday were killed. One of the hostages, a priest, was killed with a blade. French media reported that his throat was slit.

The men were reported to have been holding between four and six persons at the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. A priest, two sisters and churchgoers were among those held.

According to sources, the men rushed into the church soon after service. A source told the newspaper that two sisters from a local order as well as two parishioners were among the hostages apart from the priest.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve was on his way to the town to be briefed by the police. French President Francois Hollande too is said to be on his way to the site of the attack. Television visuals showed police blocking the roads around the church and stretchers being pulled out of ambulances. A number of shots were heard. Police and the emergency services were at the scene.

A prosecutor told that anti-terrorism judges will probe the incident.

Earlier this month, at least 84 people were killed when a man driving a truck ploughed into a crowd that was celebrating Bastille Day in Nice in France. Many people were injured in the attack. The man was identified to be French with Tunisian origin. The attack was later claimed by the terrorist group Islamic State.

In November 2015, Paris and the northern suburb of Saint Denis witnessed a series of coordinated terror attacks that claimed the lives of 130 people. Seven persons behind the attack were gunned down.